Sought-after unopened first generation original Apple iPod (5GB) with special 'limited release' box featuring the image of Bob Marley, Model M8541, Part No. M8513LL/A, Serial No. U22083XSLG6. The top of the box features the iconic Apple logo in white, with the four sides showing front and side views of the iPod, as well as a wonderful two-panel image of the reggae legend with closed eyes and floating dreadlocks as he sings into a microphone. The underside lists the pioneering player's specifications, including its 1,000-song capacity and 10-hour battery life. In brand new, factory-sealed mint condition.
In 2001, Apple announced the iPod, a device that promised to 'put 1,000 songs in your pocket.' It was not the first MP3 player on the market, but it was the best—good looking, user friendly, and spacious enough to hold an entire music library. What resulted was a mass adoption that would change the way we interact with music forever. Leading innovation for other devices like the iPhone, the iPod is one of the most critically important hardware innovations of the 21st century. According to CNET, 'the iPod was the device that helped transform Apple from a computer company into a consumer electronics company.' While the number of new-in-box, first-gen iPods is unknown, only around 600k were sold in the first year, and the vast majority of them were used immediately.
As part of an early promotional campaign, Apple created limited-release boxes featuring popular artists—Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Bob Marley, Alanis Morissette, and Run-DMC—all of which are scarce and highly sought-after today, especially in still-sealed examples.
